Senior Town Planner

WSP in the UK & Ireland; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working policy

Training and chartership pathways

Health & wellbeing programmes

Flexible working & extra leave

Job summary

WSP in the UK & Ireland seeks a Planner for the Major Projects Planning and Development Team. You will provide commercial planning and development advice to private and public sector clients, supporting major projects in social infrastructure across the UK and internationally.

You will devise planning strategies, draft statements, review documents, and work with multidisciplinary teams while managing delivery and budgets. Hybrid working and ongoing professional development are supported.

Qualifications

• Degree level qualification in town planning or related postgraduate qualification.
• Chartered MRTPI/MRICS status.
• Experience of the UK planning system in local authority or private sector.
• Good technical and IT skills.
• Commercial approach to planning consultancy and development.
• Desire to work in a growing planning team with experienced professionals.
• Good organisational and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Devising planning strategies, including assessment of site planning history and relevant planning policies.
• Preparing briefing notes outlining the likelihood of achieving planning permission.
• Drafting planning statements to support development proposals.
• Reviewing third-party documents to ensure consistency and validity.
• Assisting with planning aspects of multidisciplinary teams delivering planning projects.
• Attending site visits, design team and client meetings.
• Managing project delivery and budgetary control.
• Participating in negotiations with planning authorities and stakeholders.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues across WSP and external organisations.
• Monitoring planning applications and liaising with clients and teams to respond to consultation feedback.

Skills

Town planning knowledge

Postgraduate qualification

Chartered MRTPI/MRICS

UK planning system knowledge

IT skills

Commercial planning approach

Team collaboration

Organisation & communication

Education

Degree in town planning or related postgraduate qualification

Chartered MRTPI/MRICS

Job description

We are recruiting a Planner for the Major Projects Planning and Development Team within Planning Consultancy. The role involves providing commercial planning and development advice to private and public sector clients, supporting the delivery of major projects in the social infrastructure sector across the UK and internationally.

Responsibilities

• Devising planning strategies, including assessment of site planning history and relevant planning policies.
• Preparing briefing notes outlining the likelihood of achieving planning permission.
• Drafting planning statements in a clear, persuasive manner to support development proposals.
• Reviewing third‑party documents and other planning deliverables to ensure consistency and validity.
• Assisting with the planning aspects of multidisciplinary teams delivering planning projects.
• Attending site visits, design team and client meetings.
• Managing project delivery and budgetary control.
• Participating in negotiations with planning authorities and other planning stakeholders.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues across WSP and external organisations.
• Monitoring planning applications and liaising with clients and teams to respond to consultation feedback.

Qualifications

• Degree level qualification in town planning or a related postgraduate qualification.
• Chartered status (MRTPI / MRICS).
• Sound knowledge and experience of the UK planning system, gained in either a local authority or private sector setting.
• Good technical and IT skills.
• A commercial approach to planning consultancy and development.
• A desire to work in a growing planning team, supported by experienced professionals.
• Good organisational and communication skills.

Benefits

• Hybrid working policy – work from home two days a week with opportunities to collaborate in modern offices.
• Flexibility through the “WSP My Hour” scheme to take one hour each day for personal activities.
• Supportive environment for development and training, including training, mentoring and chartership pathways.
• Health & wellbeing programmes such as Thrive, a Virtual GP service, reasonable workplace adjustments, Gymflex membership discounts and a comprehensive menopause support package.
• Part‑time and flexible working arrangements, additional leave options and the ability to use bank holiday entitlement as needed.

Here at WSP we positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity. As a Disability Confident leader, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria – please let us know if you require any workplace adjustments in support of your application.